I have finally completed my summer time encaustic vision....photographing trees and doing encaustic paintings and phototransfers of the tree images on top of the paintings.
I have learned alot in this process. Working with the encaustics in a new way, exploring color, line and form...as well as developing a finer eye. I have been noticing and photographing trees for months now and began to look at trees as individuals with unique personalities, flaws and idosyncracies....as if they were people. Here is the completed series.
I found myself looking for the perfect tree. What were my criteria, unique tunk, branches that stood out, no background to divert attention and alot of sky showing through the branches. Then I began to think about standards of beauty, in not only trees but people. What is beauty, what makes imagery stand out. Each tree had flaws, the branches were changed by life and wind, and trauma.... again and again the parallels with people began to emerge. This has been a very powerful and evocative process for me.
My final tree in this process, is the most subtle and evocative. I am ready to move onto another series...I am all fired up with the possiblities. My work with encaustics has taken another turn. I am looking forward to more exploration of this new direction
